Apparatus for dispensing fluid



Oct. 13, 1953 A. F. BARBARO 2,655,286

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLUID Filed March 13, 1950 isiiillllllllllll w INVENTOR.

2%: ANTHONY EBAQBARO,

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES IdTENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for supporting an original container of fluid in elevated position and for dispensing fluid directly from the original container in predetermined measured quantities for use in preparation of beverages, confections, and the like.

Preparation of beverages and confections, particularly at soft drink counters, usually includes dispensing of a predetermined amount of extract or concentrated syrup or fluid from a concealed supply receptacle, by some suitable manually operable pumping means. The receptacle is periodically suplied with syrup or other fluid by manually transferring and pouring the syrup from an opened original container into the receptacle. During this pouring operation great care must be exercised to avoid spilling and splatteringthe fluid on the surface of adjacent equipment and usually some of the fluid is spilled and lost. This type of operation results in two batches of syrup, one remaining in the original container and the other in the dispensing receptacle.

This filling operation is extremely diflicult because of the weight of the original container of fluid and the necessity of beginnin a pouring operation with a full container and directing the flow of fluid into a small opening which usually is not conveniently accessible. It is also difiicult to determine when the dispensing receptacle is empty and often this fact is not known until the pump fails to deliver fluid therefrom when operated. The ordinary pumping arrangement does not deliver an accurately determined quantity of fluid because the amount delivered depends to some extent upon the particular manual operation or stroke of the pump by the operator. Thus, too little or too much fluid may be delivered into the mixture being prepared and the resulting beverage or confection may be distasteful.

The primary object of this invention is to design and provide an apparatus for supporting an original container of fluid and for directly dispensing fluid therefrom which will obviate the above disadvantages and which will provide an apparatus wherein a container of fluid may be easily and conveniently opened in novel manner when in virtually its proper dispensing position so as to eliminate spilling and splattering of the fluid on adjacent equipment.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a container of fluid in elevated position whereby the container may be raised to such position while unopened and wherein any manual pouring operation of fluid from the container is completely eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for dispensing fluid from a container supported in the above manner whereby the container may be completely emptied before it is replaced.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a container of fluid as above described wherein the container is conveniently and easily opened in such a manner that the opening made is'quickly sealed to prevent loss of fluid and wherein simultaneously a wall of the container is deformed so as to provide complete drainage of fluid from the container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned above, wherein a novel container piercing element is employed for puncturing a wall of the container and for urging the edge marg ns of the opening downwardly upon rotation of the container so as to deform the pierced wall to provide a concave, dished bottom wall of the container.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character above mentioned wherein a transparent gauge is carried beneath the container in fluid communication therewith for indicating when the container is empty and for providing an auxiliary supply chamber for fluid.

This invention also contemplates a simple, effective valve assembly cooperable with the gauge described above for accurately measuring preselected quantities of fluid and for dispensing said quantities of fluid.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus as above described wherein means are provided for venting the container of fluid to be dispensed for facilitating flow of fluid.

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates an apparatus wherein an original container of fluid, while unopened, may be raised into an elevated position and then opened and sup-ported in said elevated position by the apparatus in such a manner that the weight of the fluid in the container aids in the opening of the container. The apparatus comprises a member capable of supporting a container of fluid at outer circumferential margins of the container a ported piercing element carried by the member for piercing a bottom wall of the container and for depressing the central portion of the pierced wall upon turning the container. The

pi rcing element affords fluid communication with a transparent gauge carried below the conainer holding member from which the fluid may be dispensed by a simple, effective valve assembly in predetermined quantities.

Other obiects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent from the following description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a fluid dispenser embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1, the section being takenin a vertical transverse plane through the axis of the dispenser.

Figs. 3a and 3b are detailed views of the piercing element used in this invention, Fig. 3a being a top view and Fig. 3?) being a side View with the lower portion of the element in section, the plane of the section being taken transversely-and passing through the axis of the element.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the piercing element after it has punctured a wall of a fluid container and has been rotated through approximately 90.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical plane through the self assembly as indicated by line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, an apparatus for supporting a container of fluid and for dispensing the fluid therefrom comprises a standard, generally indicated at iii, having a flat, forked, ovalor circular-shaped, relatively heavy base ll of approximately the same diameter as the container of fluid to be supported. i'he rear marginal edges oi-base H may be partially enclosed by a depending flange I2 formed on the bottom of a pedestal 13. The pedestal :3 may be formed from a virtually semi-cylindrical piece of sheet metal which is-centrally and arcuately relieved on opposite sides as at l4 to provide a lower outwardly flaring portion IS, a narrow central neck portion I 6, and an outwardly flaring upper portion ll. The upper portion ll terminates in a vertical, rigid, curved segmental wall iii of greater curvature than 180, as best shown in Fig. 1, for partially embracing a shallow, cylindrical container supporting or holding member 2%.

The member 29 provides means for supporting an original container or can 19 of syrup in elevated position on the standard and includes an upper openend provided with outwardly curled edges 2| of substantially the same diameter as rigid wall 18 for seating of the curled edges 2| on the upper edge of wall i8. Obviously, the member 20 may be supported from wall I8 by various other suitable supporting means. The member 20 includes a-rigid concave or dished bottom wall 22 provided with a central flat portion 23 lying in a plane spaced below the plane defined by the juncture of bottom wall 22 with the cylindrical wall of the member.

From a consideration of Fig. 2, it will be apparent that container IQ of fluid, which is of less diameter than the member 26 may be accommodated therewithin in such a manner that the only portion of the bottom of container IS in contact with wall 22 will be the bottom circumferential edges of container 19 seated against outer circumferential margins of bottom wall 22. The supporting of th container of fluid at outer margins of its bottom wall is to facilitate forming of a concave dished container wall as later described. It is to be understood that bottom 22- (or lower portion of side walls 25) may be prohead 3D.

vided with a lip or bead upon which outer edges of can 19 may be supported.

Means for withdrawing fluid from container i9 is provided by a container-piercing element 2% shown in detail in Figs. 3a and 3b and extending through a central aperture 2c in portion 23 oi wall 22. The piercing element may be suitably secured in said aperture by a lower nut 21 having threaded engagement with external threads 28 provided on a shank 25. Above portion 23, the shank is provided with threaded engagement with an enlarged nut 25. Seated on nut 29 is a resilient, compressible, yieldable washer 29a of suitable rubber or rubber composition material which has a diameter greater than the widest dimension of the piercing element for sealing cooperation with a wall of container l9, as later described. The piercing element 2- 1 may be readily adjusted longitudinally with respect to aperture 25 by means of the nuts 27 and 29. p

Integrally formed with shank 25 is an upwardly projecting triangular, wedge-shaped piercing head 3Elof diamond shaped cross-section and provided with sharp cutting edges. The lowermost widely-spaced extremities of the triangular head lying on its long transverse axis extend beyond the outer surface of shank 25 and may be integrally joined to shank 25 by undercut, downwardly curved rounded edges 3!. The short transverse diameter at the bottom of the head is virtually the same as the outer diameter of shank '25. The head 3% may be provided with opposed, vertically elongated oval shaped ports 32 in communication with the upper end of the bore of shank 25 for providing passage of fluid through the piercing element. The piercing head terminates in a sharp point 33 facilitating puncture of a wall of a container 59.

When a container ill is placed within member 28 and pressed downwardly, the piercing head 38 will puncture the opposed wall 35 of the container and form a central elongated opening 3 therein. Inthe puncturing operation the piercing element causes the edges of opening 35 to curl slightly outwardly and upwardly away from the piercing When the container has been pressed downwardly until the bottom circumferential edges of the container seat against the outer margins of the bottom wall 22 of member 29, the top surface of the central portion of the pierced wall 35 of the container will be positioned slightly below the lower extremities of the head (Fig. 3b).

In order tocentrally depress the pierced Wall of the container adjacent thepiercing element to provide a self-draining concave bottom wall, the container is rotated through approximately This rotation of the container 19 brings the inwardly downwardly directed, rounded edges 3i and conical lower portion of the. head 30 into downwardly pressing contact with the edges of opening 34. As the container is rotated,

edges 3i urge edge margins of opening 34 downwardly into virtually sealing pressure contact with the upper surface of the compressible washer 29a and form wall.35 of concave configuration as best shown in Fig. 2.

for virtually complete drainage and emptying of fluid from the container.

Secured beneath member 20 to the central bottom portion 23 is a transparent cylindrical gauge 37 (made of a transparent organic plastic such as an acrylic resin, polystyrene composition or the like) provided with an upper, outwardly extending circular flange 38 attached to portion 23 by suitable spaced screws 39. The gauge 37 defines an auxiliary fluid supply chamber 40 disposed axially with respect to shank 25 of the piercing element 24, the chamber being in communication with the interior of the container of fluid 19 through the central bore in shank Z5 and the opposed ports 32 in head 30.

Integrally formed with gauge 5'! and of the same material is a transversely extending, generally cylindrical, transparent, hollow valve housing 4| carried below the gauge and providing a common partition wall therebetween having a circular port 42. The housing is provided with a depending nipple 43 having a discharge port 44 virtually beneath the port 42. One end of the housing is closed by end wall 45 and the opposite open end of the housing receives a generally cylindrical valve body 46 which may be made of any suitable material such as metal or a plastic transparent material.

The valve body 46 extends within the housing in close fitting relationship, said body including a hollow, cylindrical portion having flat end edges seated against end wall 45 of the housing in sealing engagement therewith. The hollow, cylindrical portion defines a valve chamber 4'! of preselected, volumetric capacity equivalent to a predetermined quantity of fluid to be introduced into the beverage or confection being prepared. The cylindrical, hollow portion of the body is provided with ports 69 and 58 radially spaced at 90 to each other, said ports 49 and 5t being adapted to be alternately positioned in alignment with their respective communicating ports 34 and 42.

The valve body includes a thickened end wall portion 52 provided with a threaded central bore for threaded engagement with a suitable handle 53 for manual rotative operation of the valve body. Ports 49 and 5d are accurately positioned with their respective ports 44 and 42 by means of pin 54 threaded in the valve housing adjacent the nipple 43, the end of said pin extending into and movable within an arcuate groove 55 of approximately 90 formed in the thickened portion 47 of the valve body. Abutment of pin 54 with end walls of groove 55 accurately aligns ports 49 and with their respective ports 44 and 42 for passage of fluid therethrough.

It will be noted that in one operative position of the handle, port registers with port 42 to permit flow of fluid into valve chamber 4? from chamber 45 of the gauge. In this position nipple 43 is closed by the wall of the valve body. When the valve chamber' l'i is filled as evidenced by observation of the fluid in the gauge, the valve body may be rotated to its other operative position wherein port 49 is registered in alignment with port 44 for discharge of the predetermined quantity of fluid from the valve chamber. In this latter position of the valve body, port 42 is closed by the wall of the valve body to prevent flow of fluid from the gauge to the valve chamber. Thus, the only quantity of fluid discharged is that quantity carried in the valve chamber 4! and the exact predetermined amount is measured and introduced into the beverage being prepared.

The container of fluid l9 may be enclosed by a cylindrical cover 56 having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the member 29. The edges surrounding a lower open end of cover 56 may be curled outwardly and upwardly so that these edges seat on edges 2| of the member 20 when the cover 55 is in position. The upper end of cover 56 is provided with an end wall 51 having an axial opening therein for mounting a suitable bushing 58. The bushing 58 is centrally bored for reception of a pin 59 having an enlarged head (it. Sleeved over pin 55 is a spring 6| extending between the head Bil of the top surface of the bushing 58 for spring biasing pin 59 outwardly. Adjacent its lower end, pin 59 is provided with an annular shoulder 52 for abutment with the bushing to limit outward movement of pin 59 due to the biasing action of spring 61. The lower end of pin 59 is sharply pointed so that when head 60 is pressed downwardly, the pointed end of the pin will penetrate and puncture the top wall of container I9 and provide a vent to facilitate flow of fluid from the container.

Support of a container of fluid 19 for dispensing fluid therefrom as above described is particularly advantageous because an original, unopened container may be conveniently positioned in the container-holding member 26 without any danger of spilling the fluid. When positioned in member 20 the container is easily opened by pressing downwardly on the container. Obviously the weight of the container and fluid therein materially aids in forcing the piercing element through the bottom wall of the container. Opening of the container is performed with loss of fluid virtually eliminated since as soon as the opening has been made and the circumferential edges of the container are seated against the outer margins of the concave bottom wall 22 of the member, the container may be immediately rotated through approximately to seal the edges of the opening made against the compres sible washer 29a and to simultaneously form a concave dished bottom wall of the container for completely emptying the container. The entire operation above described is quickly and easily performed with no loss of fluid and without danger of splattering the fluid on adjacent surfaces or equipment.

The transparent gauge providing an auxiiiary chamber for limited supply of fluid after the container is empty immediately indicates when the container is empty by visual observation of the level of fluid therein and permits complete drainage of fluid from the container before the container is removed and replaced. The limited supply of syrup held in gauge 3! permits dispensing of several drinks while a new original container is brought from a store room and in stalled as previously described.

The gauge also indicates when a predetermined quantity of fluid has entered the valve chamber by observation of movement of fluid within the gauge. Normally, however, when the discharge port 44 is closed, ports 42 and 5b are in alignment and the valve chamber is in fluid communication with the chamber of the gauge so that a measured quantity of fluid is immediately available after any period of nonuse.

The apparatus above described is adjustable for supporting and dispensing fluid from containers of various sizes and diameter. A container of smaller dismeter than that illustrated 7 will be supported at its bottomouter-circumferential edges onthe concave bottom wall of member 26 and the piercing element-24 may be lowered by readjustingnuts 2-1 and '29 so that the head 30 will be inproper position to force the edges of an opening made in the pierced wall of the container downwardly to seal the opening and to form a dished bottom wall of the container. l

It should be-particularly noted that the. fluid is dispensed directly from the original container of fluid and no pouring operation is performed to fill a secondary receptacle from which fluid is dispensed. I

Venting of the container is conveniently performed by sharply "pressing pin 59 downwardly to form an opening in the top wall ofgthe container of fluid. This operation is accomplished while the'cover is in place and possible splatter.- ing of fluid from this operation is confined within cover 58. Cover 56, moreover, prevents contamination of the contents of can l9 while it is in use, in the dispenser.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made in the exemplary embodiment of the invention described above and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing measured amounts of syrupand the like from an original metallic can thereof, comprising: a supportincluding a dished bottom wall for supporting ciroumierential bottom edge'margins only of a can for rotation thereon in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the can; a centrallyjdisposed, upwardly directed hollow piercing element having an upper, triangular, wedge-shaped ported head provided with cutting edges, and a lower portion having undercut, downwardly and inwardly extending sides extending below the plane :of the means for supporting edge margins of' the can and arranged to cooperatively-engage edges of a can bottom pierced by said head to dish the can bottom downwardly when a pierced can is partially rotated on said supporting means; means for rigidly positioning the piercing element with its widest portion substantially in the plane of the means for supporting edge margins of the can; a transparent gauge provided with a measuring valve; a hollow shank connecting the lower portion of the piercing head with the gauge; and sealing means carried by the shank and arranged to contact the bottom wall of a can pierced by the piercing head when saidbottom wall is de forme'dby rotation of the can.

2. An apparatus for dispensing measured amounts of syrup and the like from an original metallic can thereof, comprising: an upright support including a dished Wall'forsupporting circumferential bottom edges only' of a canlfor rotation thereon in a plane transverse to the vertical axis of the support; a centrally disposed, upwardly directly hollow piercing element having an upper, triangular, wedge-shaped. ported head provided with cutting edges and rigidly positioned with its wider portion virtually in the transverse plane of the means for supporting edge margins of the can, said piercing element including a lower portion having undercut downwardly and inwardly extending rounded sides extending below'and terminating in spaced relation to said transverse plane; a transparent ac-amcee gauge-provided-with. a measuring valve carried by said support; a hollow-shank connecting the lower portion ofthe piercing. head with the gauge; and sealing means carried by the shank and arranged to contact the bottom wall of a can pierced by the-piercing head when said bottom wall is deformed by rotation of the can.

3. An apparatus for dispensing measured amounts of syrup and the like froman original metallic can thereof, comprising: a support including a dished bottom wall for supporting edge margins only of a can for rotation thereon in a plane above the central portion of said bottom wall; a centrally disposed hollow piercing elee ment having an upper, triangular, wedge-shaped ported head provided with cutting edges and positioned with its widest portion virtually in the plane of the supporting edge margins, said piercing element including a lower portion having undercut, downwardly and inwardly extending sides terminating in a plane spaced below the plane of the edge margins arranged to coopera-A tively engage edges of a can bottom pierced by said head to dish the can bottom downwardly when a pierced can is partially rotated on said supporting means; a transparent gauge provided with a measuring valve carried by said support; a hollow shank connecting the lower portion of the piercing head with the gauge; and sealing means carried by the shank and arranged to be compressed by the bottom wall of a can pierced by the piercing head when said bottom wall is deformed by rotation of the can.

4. An apparatus for dispensing fluid directly from an original metallic container thereof, comprising: an upright support including a dished wall for supportingedge margins only of a container in a plane above the central portion of the dished wall; a centrally. disposed upwardly di rected hollow piercing element carried by the dished wall and having an upper triangular wedge-shaped ported cutting head disposed slightly above the plane of the supported edge margins, and a lower portion including means extending below and terminating inpspaced relation to the plane of the supported edge margins for cooperatively engaging edges of a container bottom pierced by said head to dish the container bottom downwardly when a pierced container is partially rotated on said supporting means; and a transparent gauge provided with a measuring valve in communication with said container through the hollow piercing element.

5. An apparatus of the character stated in claim 4, wherein sealing means carried by the element are resiliently compressible by the bottom wall of a container pierced by the piercing element when said wall is deformed by rotation of the container.

6. In an apparatus for supporting a container of fluid and dispensing fluid. therefrom, including a support and a valve assembly, the provision of: a hollow cylindrical container-holding mem,- ber carried by the support in elevated position and having a concave bottom wall for supporting a container at outer margins of an opposed wall of the container; an upstanding hollow piercing element centrally carried by the bottom wall of the member for making an opening in the op? posed wall of the container and for draining fluid from the container; said element having a triangular, wedge-shaped ported head disposed with lowermost portions of the head lying slightly above atransverse plane defined by the outer supported margins of the opposed wall of the container, said piercing element being provided with means extending below said transverse plane and cooperable with edge margins of the opening for urging the edge margins downwardly to form the opposed container wall into concave configuration upon partial rotation of the container; and a transparent hollow gauge carried beneath the member in fluid communication with the container through the hollow piercing element for indicating when said container is empty.

7. In an apparatus for supporting a container of fluid and dispensing fluid therefrom, including a support and a valve assembly, the provision of: a hollow cylindrical container-holding member carried by the support in elevated position and having a concave bottom wall for supporting a container at outer margins of an opposed wall of the container; an upstanding hollow piercing element centrally carried by the bottom wall of the member for making an opening in the opposed wall of the container and for draining fluid from the container; said element having a triangular, wedge-shaped ported head disposed with lowermost portions of the head lying slightly above a transverse plane defined by the outer supported margins of the opposed wall of the container, said piercing element being provided with means extending below said transverse plane cooperable with edge margins of the opening for urging the edge margins downwardly to form the opposed container wall into concave configuration upon partial rotation of the container; a transparent hollow gauge carried beneath the member in fluid communication with the container through the hollow piercing element for indicating when said container is empty; and sealing means carried by the element resiliently compressible between the edge margins of the opening and the bottom wall of the member when said edge margins are urged downwardly.

'8. In an apparatus for dispensing fluid from an original metallic container therefor, the combination of: a support means adapted to receive said metallic container and having a dished bottom wall in supporting contact with bottom edge margins only of the container; said container being adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis extending through the central portion of said bottom wall and in spaced relation to said central portion; a centrally disposed hollow piercing element carried by said dished wall and having an upper triangular ported head portion provided with cutting edges and adapted to overlie the bottom of the container after piercing said bottom, and a lower portion having an undercut 10 downwardly and inwardly extending sides terminating below the pierced bottom of the container, said sides being arranged to cooperatively engage edges of a container bottom pierced by said head to dish the container bottom downwardly when the pierced container is partially rotated on said support means; a hollow shank on said piercing element adapted to communicate with a receptacle for receiving iluid drained from the container; and sealing means encircling and carried by the shank above the dished bottom wall and adapted to be compressed by said container bottom when deformed by rotation of the container.

9. In an apparatus for dispensing fluid from an original metallic container therefor, the combination of: a support means adapted to receive said metallic container and having a dished bottom wall in supporting contact with bottom edge margins only of the container; said container being adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis extending through the central portion of said bottom wall and in spaced relation to said central portion; a centrally disposed hollow piercing element carried by said dished wall and having an upper triangular ported head portion provided with cutting edges and adapted to overlie the bottom of the container after piercing said bottom, and a lower portion having an undercut downwardly and inwardly extending sides terminating below the pierced bottom of the container, said sides being arranged to cooperatively engage edges of a container bottom pierced by said head to dish the container bottom downwardly when the pierced container is partially rotated on said support means; and a hollow shank on said piercing element adapted to communicate with a receptacle for receiving fluid drained from the container.

ANTHONY F. BARBARO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 529,735 House, Sr. Nov. 27, 1894 1,016,135 Foans Jan. 30, 1912 1,475,928 Dieu Dec. 4, 1923 1,574,495 Look Feb. 23, 1926 1,577,235 Hucks Mar. 16, 1926 1,709,669 Jones Apr. 16, 1929 2,007,449 Kernoodle et a1 July 9, 1935 2,042,928 La Costa June 2, 1936 2,203,710 Young June 11, 1940 2,258,636 Young et a1 Oct. 14, 1941 2,526,708 Sundholm Oct. 24, 1950 

